Reigning ROC champions to defend title

Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen and reigning FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg have joined the field for the 2015 Race Of Champions on November 20-21 at the Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – the iconic home of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Denmark’s Kristensen is acknowledged as the finest endurance racer in motor sport history. He has a record nine wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours in addition to his record six wins at the Sebring 12-Hour race, an American Le Mans Series title and an FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) title in 2013. Since his retirement from WEC at the end of last season, he has continued to work as an ambassador for Audi and was the Grand Marshal at the latest Le Mans 24 Hours, leading the field away.

Norway’s Solberg is another member of driving’s elite, having reached the top of the world in two different fields of motor sports He won the FIA World Rally Championship in 2003 and amassed over 50 WRC podiums in his glittering career. He switched to the FIA World Rallycross Championship last year and duly won it at his first attempt. Solberg is also leading this year’s championship as he bids to defend his title.

Prior to last year in Barbados, Solberg’s last Race Of Champions appearance came at Wembley Stadium in 2007 when he partnered brother Henning to the semi-finals of the ROC Nations Cup. Kristensen has rather more experience, having appeared at every Race Of Champions since 2001.

Now, following their ROC Nations Cup victory in Barbados for Team Nordic last year, Kristensen and Solberg have another title to defend in November at London’s former Olympic Stadium. The pair will also join the reigning ROC Champion of Champions David Coulthard in the individual Race Of Champions, with the rest of the superstar field due to be announced in the run-up to the event on November 20-21.

The Race Of Champions is an annual end-of-season contest that has been held for over 25 years. It brings together some of the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s major disciplines – including Formula 1, World Rally, Le Mans, MotoGP and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.